Congratulations to Alison Espach and JooHee Yoon! The Wedding People and The Book of Whys are the 2025 Rhode Island Great Reads books and our submissions for the National Book Festival in Washington, DC on September 6th, 2025.
This year’s kids submission is The Book of Whys by Gianni Rodari and illustrated by JooHee Yoon.
A Children’s Book Council January 2023 Hot Off the Press selection!
Factual as well as whimsical, and humorously illustrated, this is the first English-language publication of the answers given by one of Italy’s greatest and most beloved children’s authors to children’s questions about animals, nature, technology, and culture.
“This witty, irreverent poetry collection grew out of Rodari’s 1950s newspaper-column responses to Italian children who took him up on his offer: ‘Everything has a reason why: just ask me and I’II reply.'”―New York Times
About the Illustrator
JooHee Yoon is a Providence based illustrator and designer. Her work can be seen in various formats, including magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times, picture books, posters and textiles. Her work is informed by experiences with traditional printmaking techniques, breaking down the image making process and experimenting with overlapping color layers. She has been featured in Communication Arts, the Art Directors Club, and Forbes 30 under 30. From 2021 – 2023 JooHee was an Assistant Professor in Residence at RISD, teaching courses related to editorial illustration, publishing, and printmaking.
“I am very honored and excited to have The Book of Whys represent Rhode Island at this year’s National Book Festival. Especially since this book celebrates the joy of learning new things, and that one is never too old to ask questions. My hope is for this book to inspire readers of all ages to continue exploring this curious world we inhabit and to question the things we take for granted.” – JooHee Yoon
ABOUT THE NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
The Library of Congress National Book Festival is an annual literary event that brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities. The Library of Congress National Book Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary ” in 2025, featuring the creativity and inspiration of some of the nation’s most gifted authors on September 6th. The event showcases the importance of books and reading. Every year, the Library of Congress asks each state Center for the Book to select a title that represents the state’s literary landscape to highlight at the National Book Festival, these titles are part of the Great Reads From Great Places Initiative. The Rhode Island Center for the Book has chosen The Wedding People and The Book of Whys as the Rhode Island Great Reads for 2025.